Method oxi and appabattts pob posming metal tubes



F. SIEVERN March 8, 1932.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING METAL TUBES Filed April 13, 1928 INVENTOR Mam Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IBEDBICK SIEVERN, OI MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASBIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO ARCHWOBTH KABTDT, OI PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FOBMING METAL TUBES i Application. filed April 18,

My invention; relates to a method of and apparatus for forming metal tubes, and more particularly to the formation thereof by the method known as butt-welding, but the invention is susceptible of employment in variousjother relations.

My invention has for its object the provi sion of a means and a method whereby a more panying drawings,

- the like,

, ent handling of the parts.

extend into the face of the block 10 and are 1 perfect seam is secured, particularly in the butt-welding of iron or steel pipe.

' Some of the ways in which my invention may be practised are shown in the accomwherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of tube-drawing apparatus; Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line III--III of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 isa view showing a modification of the apparatus of Figs.

Bars or plates 6 (commonly called skelp) from which the tubes are formed may be of any ordinary size or shape of iron, steel or and are heated in the usual manner in a furnace 7. The bars 6 are drawn through a forming bell 8 by tong mechanism 9. These parts also may be of anyformwell-known in the art.

The hell 8 is supported in a head block 10; Thehead block 10 is-supported in any suitable manner and is recessed longitudinally as indicated at 11", for the receptionof air pressure through an inlet pipe 12 that is supplied from a suitable source. The pipe 12 is preferably flexible, to permit more conveni- Tubes 13 and 14 bent as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, to direct streams of air in upwardly inclined directions to the point A at which the edges of the skelp 6first make abutting engagement with one another. v

During drawing of the skelp through the bell 8, air or gas is supplied through the pipes 13 and 14, as stated, for the purpose of bringmost efiicient results are secured, namely 1928. Serial No. 269,783.

ing the temperature of the edges of the skelp 6 to the degree most suitable for welding. In the making of butt-welded pipe, air has been directed against the edges of the bar, before its entry into the bell, in order to produce the desired temperature at such edges, but no practical method has been heretofore devised for concentrating the blasts of air and as at the edges, such blasts being commo y directed from nozzles or conduits disposed at considerable distances from the edges of the perature of the edges of the bar, but the molten metal or liquor which is commonly present in the bells during drawing of pipes is directed by the air blast into the seam or joint, thus effecting a more perfect and smoother weld and solving the problem of caring for said liquid metal. Heretofore, the liquid metal instead .of being utilized to perfect the weld, has given considerable trouble through its cooling on other portions of the tube, thus producing roughness thereon.

The bending of the edges of the pipe downwardly as shown in-the drawings is important because the seam is formed at the lower side of the tube so that the molten metal will tend to accumulate at such point, where it is useful in effecting a perfect weld. If the edges of the skelp were bent upwardly to form the seam, the molten metal would tend to flow away from the seam and harden on the sides of the tube where it would be a detriment instead of being utilized to unite the edges of the skelp. The aseous blast not only serves to produce the esired temperature at the edges of the skelp but blows the molten metal into the seam-and prevents it flowing away.

My invention has the further advantage that the air supply means is so located as to not interfere with drawing operations and to permit the air blast to be more accurately 5 directed to the desired points. Furthermore, the air conduits are unitary with the head block, which makes for convenience of installation and positioning of the parts.

In Fig. 4, I show a structure that is similar to that of Fig. 1, but wherein a conduit 13a is provided with an elongated slot 16 which directs the air blast against one edge o'f the bar 6. At the other edge of the bar 6, the conduit 14 may be mounted for directing an 15 air blast to the point of weld, as in the case of Fig. 1. If desired, a nozzle 16 may be provided at each edge of the bar.

Another important feature of my invention arises from the fact that the head block of course becomes very hot by reason of its proximity to the furnace, and the air which passes through the pipes 11, 13 and 14 becomes heated. Also, the bell, of course, becomes exceedingly hot and as the air is directed into said bell before coming into contact with the edges of the skelp, it becomes still more highly heated.

Another advantage in directing the air blast into the bell arises by reason of the fact that such action blows the scale from the walls of the tube being formed, thereby avoiding a subsequent operation to effect removal of such scale. Furthermore, such air blast will have the effect of blowing impurities out of the said liquor or molten metal in the bell.

While, for convenience of description, I herein describe and claim air. as the gaseous medium which is directed against the edge of the pipe and into the bell, it will be under stood that I contemplate the use of still other gaseous mediums, stead of air. V

I claim as my invention 1. Apparatus for forming metal tubes,

comprising a head block having a conduit formed therein, a drawing or welding die mounted in the head block, and a pipe carried by the block'and communicating with the said conduit, the outer end of the pipe being directed toward the said die and the conduit being in proximity to the die.

2. Apparatus for forming metal tubes comprising a head block having a conduit formed therein, a drawing or welding die mounted in the head block, and a pipe carried by said block at opposite sides of the die, the pipes communicating with the said conduit and having their outer ends directed upwardly toward the axial line of the die and the conduit being in proximity to the die.

3. Apparatus for forming metal tubes such as acetylene gas, in-

conduit to a of said die, to the die.

4. Apparatus for forming metal tubes comprising a head block having a conduit formed therein, a drawing or welding die carried by said block, and means for directing gaseous medium under pressure from said conduit to a point within the die, the

conduit being in proximity to the die.

5. Apparatus for forming metal tubes comprising a head block having a conduit formed therein, a drawing or welding die carried by said block, and means for direct ing gaseous medium under pressure from said conduit to such point that it will impinge upon the edges of a bar which have been bent downwardly by said die, the conduit being in proximity to the die. a

6. Apparatus for forming metal tubes comprising a drawing or welding die arranged tobend the edges of a tube blank downwardly into proximity to one another, a head block for supporting the die and a conduit carried by the head block in proximity to the die and arranged to direct a gaseous blast upwardly against the edges of the blank and tangentially against the lower face of the 'die cavity at a point adjacent to the restricted portion of said die.

7. The method of butt-welding tube skelp, which comprises drawing the skelp through a forming bell with the edges directed downwardly and brought into contact with one another, and directing 'a gaseous blast toward the point at which said edges progressively engage one another, with sufiicient force to prevent molten metal at said edges from flowing away.

8. Apparatus for forming metal tubes comprising a drawing or welding die having a restricted portion arranged to bend the edges of a tube blank downwardly into proximity to one another, a head block for supporting the die andoa conduit arranged to direct a gaseous blast upwardly against the edges of the blank and tangentially against the lower face of, the die cavity at a point adjacent to the restricted ortion of said die.

In testimony whereof I, the said FREDRIUK Smvnnn, have hereunto set my hand.

FREDRIOK SIEVERN.

point adjacent to the lower side the conduit being in proximity comprising a head block having aconduit formed therein, a drawing or welding die carried by said block, and means for directing gaseous medium under pressure from said 

